42 players have been announced for the side that will host the WAFL on May 27 at North Port Oval.

All 14 VFL teams are represented in the initial squad, featuring VFL listed players that have performed well in the opening rounds of the season.

Standalone clubs Williamstown (nine players) and undefeated Port Melbourne (seven) lead the way for representatives, followed by Essendon (four) and Coburg (three).

Casey Demons senior coach Justin Plapp has been appointed to coach the team in 2017, following in the footsteps of the likes of VFL premiership coaches Andy Collins (Williamstown), Damian Carroll (Box Hill Hawks), Gary Ayres (Port Melbourne) and Gerard FitzGerald (North Ballarat) as state coach.

Plapp will be joined on the state coaching panel by Demons midfield coach Danny Ryan, North Ballarat midfield coach and former Richmond star Nick Daffy, Werribee back line coach Ben Patrick and Box Hill Hawks back line coach Ricky Petterd. Former Casey player and co-host of Channel 7’s VFL coverage Nigel Carmody was appointed as chairman of selectors.

It will be a fresh-faced squad representing the VFL in 2017, with just 12 players from the VFL team that faced the SANFL in 2016 named in the initial squad. The squad will be reduced to a training list of 30 at the conclusion of Round 5, with players outside of this squad still able to be named should form warrant selection in the coming weeks.

“When I look at the initial squad, I see a lot of younger, hungry players with a good mix of seasoned VFL players,” coach Plapp said.

“For us at the moment it is getting the balance right, and gaining an understanding of how we might set up against an opposition we don’t know a great deal about.

“A lot of selections have been based on players being able to play roles, but also getting the balance of some bigger bodies, plus players that can play multiple positions.

“I see an exciting group of players that are in some really good form at VFL level, who now have a great opportunity ahead of them.

“We are obviously going off only a few weeks form, so I am pretty sure there will be other players that jump up in the next week or two, and if we need to make adjustments we will.”

In a change from previous years, a development squad has also been named - outside of the squad of 42 - featuring a host of up-and-coming talent from VFL ranks. These players will be invited to train with the squad, to help aid their development as part of the state team program.

“For those younger players, it’s an opportunity from a development point of view, but if form warrants, they could potentially push for selection inside the final 23 as well,” Plapp said.

“It is a great initiative, and a chance for these player to keep growing their game.

The state game will be broadcast live on Channel 7 from 2pm Saturday May 27, live from North Port Oval.

The VFL squad features:

2 - J.J. Liston Trophy winners

7 - 2016 VFL club best and fairest winners

9 - Club captains

11 - 2016 VFL Team of the Year selections

15 - Former AFL players

FULL SQUAD

David Mirra Box Hill Hawks

Sam Switkowski Box Hill Hawks

Angus Scott Casey Demons

Tom Goodwin Coburg Lions

Nick Mellington Coburg Lions

Liam Hunt Coburg Lions

Jordan Kelly Collingwood

Michael Chippendale Collingwood

Nick O’Brien Essendon

James Ferry Essendon

Nick Hind Essendon

Alex Boyse Essendon

Lauchlan Dalgleish Footscray

Nick Jamieson Footscray

Tom Atkins Geelong

Sam McLachlan Geelong

Nick Rippon North Ballarat

Andrew Hooper North Ballarat

Tom Wilson Northern Blues

Cam O’Shea Northern Blues

Tom O’Sullivan Port Melbourne

Eli Templeton Port Melbourne

Jordan Lisle Port Melbourne

Brody Mihocek Port Melbourne

Brodie Murdoch Port Melbourne

Toby Pinwill Port Melbourne

Robin Nahas Port Melbourne

Jacob Ballard Richmond

Sam Darley Richmond

Elliot Le Grice Sandringham

Tom Curren Sandringham

Matt Hanson Werribee Tigers

Michael Sodomaco Werribee Tigers

Michael Gibbons Williamstown

Brett Bewley Williamstown

Josh Newman Williamstown

Ayce Cordy Williamstown

Leigh Masters Williamstown

Ben Cavarra Williamstown

Sam Dunell Williamstown

Adam Marcon Williamstown

Nick Meese Williamstown

Talented Developing Players:

Nick Evans Box Hill

Bailey Fritsch Casey Demons

Ben Allan Coburg Lions

Lachlan Tardrew Collingwood

Nash Holmes Essendon

Andrew Tashevski-Beckwith Footscray

Dan Capiron Geelong

Brenton Payne North Ballarat

Marcus Stavrou Northern Blues

Mack Rivett Port Melbourne

Kade Answerth Sandringham

Joe Maishman Werribee Tigers

Billy Meyers Williamstown

Listen to an interview with VFL coach Justin Plapp below, after he was announced as coach:

An initial Carlton Draught WAFL State Squad has been named for this year’s State Game against the Victorian Football League (VFL) at North Port Oval in Melbourne on Saturday, May 27.

The game will be broadcast live in Perth on Channel 7 from 12pm WST on Saturday, May 27.

WA coach Michael Broadbridge and assistant coaches Paul Johnson, Steve Malaxos, Clay McLernon and Garry Moss have selected a squad of 37 players to participate in the State program over the next three weeks.

Broadbridge said players had been selected in consultation with their WAFL coaches based on current form in the roles that would be required to tackle the VFL at North Port Oval.

“We’re obviously expecting a certain style of play from the VFL on that ground so we’ve taken the approach of selecting players in the roles we’re likely to need,” Broadbridge said.

“We’ve been out watching players at the WAFL each week and all of the senior coaches have been very supportive and given us great feedback on which players are in form in the roles we need and who is most worthy of consideration.

“Overall, with the size of the ground at North Port, the opposition, and the chance it could be a bit slippery means we’re looking at players with bigger bodies who are strong over the ball and strong at the contest, which we’ll look to compliment with a bit of flair.

“We’re also looking at players who we think can adapt well, have some experience playing in the conditions against similar opposition and are mentally strong.”

The squad includes the greatest representation from the teams in the top four positions on the ladder, with nine players from South Fremantle selected, seven from Subiaco, six from Swan Districts and five from West Perth.

Broadbridge has also assembled a coaching panel with a blend of youth and experience to lead the 2017 Carlton Draught State Squad.

“I’ve tried to get a balanced panel with good pedigree and strong ambition,” he said.

“Paul Johnson has been one of the best WAFL and State players in recent years, Garry Moss is a former AFL and WAFL player looking to enhance his coaching credentials, Clay McLernon is a WAFL Premiership player doing a fantastic job with the East Fremantle Colts and Steve Malaxos really balances it out well with his experience as a WAFL coach and as a player at State level.

“We are all really committed and looking forward to the challenge.”

Photo: 2016 State Game Simpson Medallist Jye Bolton is one of three players selected from Claremont for this year's squad. Photo: MM Photography

This is just a waste of time bullshit game that dosent represent the quality of playrs that play in the VFL every week.How many of these players would make it onto a current AFL list ? maybe a couple.

With so many Port and Willy players why not just pick a combined side and be done wtih it?

The football public will vote with their feet and the usual 1500 may bother to turn up which is pathetic for the suppossed best State League in the nation.But as I said its a long way from being the best side to put on the paddock and the footy public know that.

I reckon if the usual bigheaded,arrogant attitude - we are the mighty Vics attitude prevails and the players start playing fancy as they have in past games as if they are a real the Victorian team the sandgropers might just knock this team off but not if the weather is crap.

On th bright note Sandy/St Kilda Seconds that I take a passing inerest in wont lose any players to injury

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